System and method for playing a game

ABSTRACT

A system for playing a game comprises a game unit and a number of mobile terminals which can communicate with the game unit. The game unit is arranged for sending a game code to one or more mobile terminals, and the mobile terminals are arranged for sending at least one game code-related reply message to the game unit. Each reply message comprises an identification code of the mobile terminal. The game code is a number consisting of two or more digits, and each digit identifies a key of each mobile terminal. Each reply message is a word composed of letters which have been selected by means of the keys identified by the digits of the game code. The game unit is arranged for verifying the letters of the reply message.

[0001] The invention relates to a system and a method for playing agame, which system comprises a game unit and a number of mobileterminals which can communicate with the game unit, which game unit isadapted to send a game code to one or more mobile terminals and whichmobile terminals are adapted to send at least one game code-relatedreply message to the game unit, wherein each reply message comprises anidentification code of the mobile terminal.

[0002] Known systems and methods of this kind are arranged for playinggames of chance. An example of such a system is described in WO01/48712. One drawback of a game of chance is the fact that the level ofknowledge and/or dexterity of the player has hardly if any influence onthe outcome of the game. The game unit may be of relatively simpledesign, because the game unit only needs to check the reply message forwinning or losing.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a system and a methodof the kind referred to in the introduction by means of which a game canbe played, wherein the level of knowledge and/or dexterity of the playerdetermines the outcome of the game.

[0004] In order to accomplish that objective, the game code used in thesystem or the method according to the invention is a number comprisingtwo or more digits, wherein one or more of said digits identify a key ofa mobile terminal, and each reply message is a word or a part of a wordcomposed of one or more letters which have been selected by means of thekey(s) identified by digits of the game code, wherein the game unit isadapted to verify the letters of the reply message.

[0005] In this manner a system and a method are obtained in which thelevel of knowledge of the players determines the outcome of the game.The game unit must carry out several verification operations on thereply messages in order to determine the score.

[0006] The invention will now be explained in more detail with referenceto the drawing, which is a very schematic representation of anembodiment of the system according to the invention.

[0007] The system shown in the drawing comprises a game unit 1 and anumber of mobile terminals 2, which can communicate with the game unit 1via a wireless network (not shown). The mobile terminals 2 may be mobiletelephones, PDA's or laptops or the like. The network may be a GSMnetwork, a UMTS network or other suitable network. The game unit 1comprises a database 3 (schematically indicated), in which data relatingto users of the mobile terminals 2 are stored. The users register asgame participants with the manager of the game unit 1 in advance. Saidregistration can take place in writing or over the Internet, forexample. After having registered, the users receive an information packwith an explanation of the game supported by the game unit 1. Theinformation pack may also include an identification code by means ofwhich the user can identify himself to the game unit 1 when he wants toparticipate in the game. The use of a special identification code is notnecessary, however, since the telephone number is automatically providedwhen mobile telephones are used. The game unit can use said telephonenumber for identifying the user associated therewith in the database 3.

[0008] Alternatively, participants in the game can present themselves asparticipants to the game unit 1 by means of their mobile terminal 2, forexample by sending a game entry code.

[0009] With the system as described the game unit 1 generates athree-digit number as game code 4 at the beginning of a new round orperiod of the game. Each digit is in the series 2 up to 9 and identifiesa key of each mobile telephone. As is well-known, three or fourdifferent letters can be input with each of the numeric keys 2-9 of amobile telephone, and consequently each digit from the game code 4corresponds to three or four different letters from the alphabet. Thegame code 4 is sent to all the mobile terminals 2 of those who haveregistered as participants in the game in the form of an SMS message.Each participant must form Dutch words from the letters identified bythe digits of the game code 4, and each word formed of said letters mustbe sent to the game unit 1 in the form of an SMS reply message 5.

[0010] The game unit 1 identifies the participant by means of theidentification code or the telephone number and verifies for each replymessage 5 whether the letters of the word correspond to the digits ofthe generated game code. The game unit 1 furthermore checks whether theword formed by the letters is an existing Dutch word. If these tworequirements are met, the game unit 1 determines a game score by addingup the digits corresponding to the letters of the word. In the preferredembodiment, the game score is only accepted if the sum of the digits islarger than the sum of the digits of the transmitted game code 4. Eachaccepted game score is recorded for each participant, and said scoresare accumulated to obtain a total score. In order to preventparticipants submitting the same word two or more times, the game unit 1compares each word that is received from each participant withpreviously received words and only accepts the game score of new words.At the end of a round, the participant having the highest total scorewins. The participant in question can be informed of having won theround by means of an SMS message, which is sent by the game unit 1.

[0011] A round may take up one day, for example. At 00.00 hours the gameunit 1 generates a game code for that day and sends it to allparticipating mobile terminals 2. The round closes at 24.00 hours. Around may be subdivided into sub-rounds, wherein a prize can be awardedin every sub-round to the participant with the highest total score insaid sub-round. The sub-round can be considered as a first game period,in which the game unit 1 selects one or more winning total scores fromthe total scores of the participants. The scores for the first period orsub-round are retained and remain valid for the overall round or secondperiod. After the second period, all the recorded total scores areerased and a new round begins. A participant can participate in the gamein every sub-round and submit words that were submitted in a previoussub-round anew. The score of said words counts for a new sub-round butnot for the overall round. It is also possible to use numbers comprisingtwo, four or more digits instead of a three-digit number. Of course thegame can also be played in languages different than Dutch.

[0012] It is noted that several variants to the system as describedabove are possible. The system may be arranged for a word game, forexample, wherein a first game code is sent to the mobile terminal,whether or not with a hint for the word represented by the game code.The participant can then send the word he thinks is correct to the gameunit, after which the game unit sends a second game code for a nextword, whether or not with an associated hint. After the participant hassent said word to the game unit again, the game unit will transmit tothe terminal a game code representing a word which brings the two wordsthat have previously been given as the solution into connection. Also inthis case a hint may be added to the game code or be sent separately ata later point in time.

[0013] According to another variant, the game unit supplies a game codewhose digits indicate one letter or a few letters of a word that iswanted. The participant in the game can send the wanted letter orletters to the game unit via his mobile telephone, after which the gameunit sends a next game message to the participant's mobile telephone,wherein the received letters are shown at their correct place in thewanted word. The participant can then try to find a next letter of thewanted word and send it to the game unit. If the participant hassubmitted a correct letter, the game unit will send a next game message,wherein the letter that has been found is shown at its correct place inthe word again.

[0014] Another possible variant of the system as described hereincomprises a game unit which sends a game code whose digits indicate thekeys of the mobile terminal as well as the number of times that saidkeys must be operated for the wanted letters. The game code furtherindicates how many letters the wanted word comprises. The participantcan then try to find the correct word by means of the digits of the gamecode and the number of letters of the word and submit his solution tothe game unit in a reply message.

[0015] The invention is not restricted to the embodiment as describedabove, which can be varied in many ways within the scope of theinvention as defined in the claims.

1. A system for playing a game, which system comprises a game unit and anumber of mobile terminals which can communicate with the game unit,which game unit is adapted to send a game code to one or more mobileterminals and which mobile terminals are adapted to send at least onegame code-related reply message to the game unit, wherein each replymessage comprises an identification code of the mobile terminal, whereinthe game code is a number comprising two or more digits, wherein one ormore of said digits identify a key of a mobile terminal, and each replymessage is a word or a part of a word composed of one or more letterswhich have been selected by means of the key(s) identified by digits ofthe game code, wherein the game unit is adapted to verify the letters ofthe reply message.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gameunit is adapted to send a next game message to the mobile terminal fromwhich the reply message was received, which message depends on thereceived reply message.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein thegame unit is arranged for verifying for each reply message whether theletters of the word correspond to the digits of the game code and theword formed by said letters, wherein the game unit is adapted todetermine determines a score on the basis of the digits corresponding tothe letters of the word, wherein the game unit is adapted to determinethe score as the sum of the digits corresponding to the letters of theword from the reply message.
 4. The system according to claim 3, whereinthe game unit is adpated to only accept the score if the sum of thedigits is larger than the sum of the digits of the transmitted gamecode.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the game unit isadapted to record the sum of each accepted score for each mobile unitand accumulate it to obtain a total score.
 6. The system according toclaim 5, wherein the game unit is adpated to compare each next word thatis received from a mobile terminal with words previously received fromsaid mobile terminal, with only the score of new words being accepted.7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the game unit is adapted todetermine the time of receipt of the reply messages, wherein the gameunit selects one or more winning scores from the scores that werereceived in a first period of the game.
 8. The system according to claim7, wherein the game unit is adapted to select or more winning scoresfrom the scores that were received in a second period of the game,wherein the game unit is adapted to erase all the recorded scores afterthe second period.
 9. A method for playing a game, wherein a game codeis sent to one or more mobile terminals by means of a game unit, andwherein the mobile terminals send at least one game code-related replymessage to the game unit, wherein each reply message comprises anidentification code of the mobile terminal, wherein the game code is anumber comprising two or more digits, wherein one or more of said digitsidentify a key of a mobile terminal, and each reply message is a word ora part of a word composed of one or more letters which have beenselected by means of the key(s) identified by digits of the game code,wherein the game unit verifies the letters of the reply message.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the game unit sends a next gamemessage to the mobile terminal from which the reply message wasreceived, which message depends on the received reply message.
 11. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the game unit verifies for eachreply message whether the letters of the word correspond to the digitsof the game code and the word formed by said letters, wherein the gameunit determines a score on the basis of the digits corresponding to theletters of the word, wherein the game unit preferably determines thescore as the sum of the digits corresponding to the letters of the wordfrom the reply message.
 12. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe game unit only accept the score if the sum of the digits is largerthan the sum of the digits of the transmitted game code.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the game unit records the sum of eachaccepted score for each mobile unit and accumulates it to obtain a totalscore.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the game unitcompares each next word that is received from a mobile terminal withwords previously received from said mobile terminal, with only the scoreof new words being accepted.
 15. The method according to claim 11,wherein the game unit determines the time of receipt of the replymessages, wherein the game unit selects one or more winning scores fromthe scores that were received in a first period of the game.
 16. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein the game unit selects one or morewinning scores from the scores that were received in a second period ofthe game, wherein the game unit erases all the recorded scores after thesecond period.
 17. A game unit for use in a system according claim 1.